Confusion over FEMA maps halts rebuilding in Middletown

Dec. 22, 2012

Written by

@dracioppi

MIDDLETOWN — Rebuilding in flood-damaged parts of town from superstorm Sandy is on hold until officials clarify vague federal standards issued in last week’s updated flood maps, costing storm victims time, money and patience.

The town says it is looking out for its residents’ best interests. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which issued the long-awaited flood maps last Saturday, says the updates are advisory, not regulatory, and the town should be able to proceed with business.

Caught in the middle — or, some might argue, on the bottom — of the communication breakdown are the storm-tossed taxpayers anxious to rebuild their homes and lives.

Township Administrator Tony Mercantante said town hall has stopped issuing any permits for rebuilding in storm-damaged areas because the new zones, called Coastal A Zones, have different home foundation standards recommended by FEMA. Do homeowners rebuild on a traditional block foundation? Or must they rebuild using piling construction, which is more costly?

“We’re not totally clear what they mean when they say that,” Mercantante said. “It’s a big difference.”

The haziness could mean the difference between a palatable increase for a homeowner’s flood insurance costs and an increase that prices a resident out of the neighborhood, Mercantante said.

Town officials are also awaiting a decision from the state whether it will add more criteria to the standards put out by FEMA, he added.

Each of these has implications on homeowners’ personal expenses and will factor into their flood insurance plans.

FEMA spokeswoman Robin Smith said the new flood maps, which provide homeowners and municipalities with data on flood risk, “are only preliminary.” Changes can be made and recommendations from officials will be considered, she said. Finalization of the maps usually takes months, she said.

“It’s a discussion,” Smith said. “FEMA doesn’t just go, ‘Poof, we’re more powerful than you are.’ It doesn’t work that way.”

Left in the lurch are people like Ryan Sibilia, whose Belford ranch was raised 10 feet in the air on Thursday. He quickly went from in-motion to in-limbo the next day when he visited the building department to obtain the proper permits for the next step and was told, “no.”

“I had a critical schedule. My schedule was to get my house done by Easter,” said Sibilia, who has been renting since the storm. “All these delays are killing me. It’s killing everybody.”

Mercantante said he understands the frustration of residents.

“We’re just trying to look out for people,” he said. “It’s not in our interest to slow progress down.”

As of Friday evening, Mercantante was working to arrange a Monday meeting with FEMA with the aim of getting clarity and resuming progress, he said.